1st January 2023 Islamic date

Muslim holidays by their Gregorian dates

Here are the dates of the most important Islamic holidays through 2030. These holidays move in the Western [Gregorian] calendar year since the Islamic [or Hijri] calendar is a lunar calendar, instead of a solar calendar. The Hijri calendar is named for the Hijra [or Hegira], the Prophet Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution. Years are given as A.H. [anno hegirae] as opposed to A.D. [anno domini].

The Hijri year is usually ten days shorter than the Gregorian year. There are a few different versions, such as the Solar Hijri calendar used in Iran [which is a solar calendar] and the Tabular Hijri calendar [which is mathematically derived, much like how Jewish calendar was changed in the past].

Due to how the Hijri calendar rotates, the Hijri years are given as well to help clarify the chronology of events relative to the Gregorian calendar. As well, since the traditional Hijri calendar is observational instead of mathematical [based on when phases of the moon can be seen] the start dates aren't always perfectly predictable.

NOTE: All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date given.

1. Islamic New Year [Muharram is the first month of the Hijri calendar]

2. Muhammad's Birthday. Dates for Shia Muslims are five days later than the Sunni date given here.

3. The ninth month of the Hijri calendar, in which Muslims practice a whole month of fasting

4. Feast marking the end of Ramadan.

5. The Feast of the Sacrifice, celebrating the willingness of Abraham [or Ibrahim] to sacrifice his son. In Islam, Abraham is commanded to sacrifice Ishmael rather than Isaac. Eid al-Adha marks the most important day of the Hajj.

The Hijri calendar contains other important dates for the world's Muslims. Four months of the year are designated as holy months in which war can't be waged [with the exception of jihad]. This include Dhul-Hijjah, the month of the year during which Muslims take their Hajj.